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Jimmy Raye III, Vice President of Football Operations

Jimmy Raye III enters his fourth season as the vice president of football operations for the Colts. The 2016 campaign will also mark Raye’s 22nd season in the NFL, including 17 years with the San Diego Chargers. He served as San Diego’s director of player personnel from 2008-2012, overseeing the team’s professional and college scouting departments while assisting on player personnel matters. Raye joined the Chargers in 1996 and spent four seasons (1996-99) as a scout. He was then elevated to the team’s director of college scouting, spending eight years in that role (2000-07).

With the Colts, Raye works closely with General Manager Ryan Grigson on personnel matters. In addition to assisting with the roster, salary cap and free agency process, Raye also contributes extensively with preparation for the NFL Draft, the NFL Combine and prospect visits. Dating back to 2014, he has handled the college free agent process. In the last two seasons, the Colts have featured eight undrafted free agents who, in their rookie season, played in at least one regular season game, with two players starting games.

During Raye’s tenure with the Chargers, the team compiled six winning seasons and five AFC West Division titles. San Diego posted four straight division crowns from 2006-09, which included a 14-2 campaign in 2006, marking the most wins for the team in a single season in franchise history. That season the Chargers also led the league in Pro Bowl selections with 11. Raye played an instrumental role in the draft selections of LaDainian Tomlinson (2001), the Chargers all-time leading rusher (12,490 yards) as well as quarterback Drew Brees (2001), cornerback Quentin Jammer (2002), wide receiver Vincent Jackson (2005) and running back Darren Sproles (2005). He was also part of a staff that signed undrafted free agent Antonio Gates, the team’s all-time leading receiver (10,644 yards) in 2003. From Raye’s first season as San Diego’s director of college scouting in 2000 to his departure in 2012, the Chargers led the NFL in the total number of college free agents who earned a spot on the 53-man roster.

Raye’s NFL career started with the Kansas City Chiefs as the team’s offensive quality control coach in 1995. Prior to his time in the NFL, he spent the 1994 season as a wide receivers coach at Irvine (Calif.) High School and worked for the Amsterdam Admirals of the World League in April of 1995. A former wide receiver at San Diego State (1986-1990), Raye earned a degree in public administration. He left the university tied for eighth on the school’s all-time receiving list with 111 catches. In 1991, Raye signed with the Los Angeles Rams and spent the entire campaign on the team’s roster. He then went on to training camps with the Chargers (1992) and Houston Oilers (1993).

Raye’s success and emergence as a top football mind in the NFL has not gone unnoticed, as he has been recognized throughout his career by receiving invitations to attend the 2003 NFL Stanford Executive Education program in its inaugural year at Stanford Business School and again in 2013 at the NFL Career Symposium at University of Pennsylvania Wharton Business School. Raye was also invited to attend the NFL’s inaugural General Managers’ Workshop at the league office in June of 2016. The event helps top tier general manager candidates prepare for the next step.

Raye has been honored with the Fritz Pollard Alliance “Salute to Excellence” Award in back-to back years (2014-15), recognizing those who display outstanding performance through the year on the field and in the front office of the National Football League.

Born in Fayetteville, N.C., Raye’s family moved to Irvine, Calif. where he became an all-league quarterback and defensive back at Irvine High School. He also played basketball and ran track. Raye’s father, Jimmy Raye II, played for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1969 and currently works as a consultant for the NFL’s football operations department.

Jimmy Raye III, Vice President of Football Operations

Jimmy Raye III enters his fourth season as the vice president of football operations for the Colts. The 2016 campaign will also mark Raye’s 22nd season in the NFL, including 17 years with the San Diego Chargers. He served as San Diego’s director of player personnel from 2008-2012, overseeing the team’s professional and college scouting departments while assisting on player personnel matters. Raye joined the Chargers in 1996 and spent four seasons (1996-99) as a scout. He was then elevated to the team’s director of college scouting, spending eight years in that role (2000-07).

With the Colts, Raye works closely with General Manager Ryan Grigson on personnel matters. In addition to assisting with the roster, salary cap and free agency process, Raye also contributes extensively with preparation for the NFL Draft, the NFL Combine and prospect visits. Dating back to 2014, he has handled the college free agent process. In the last two seasons, the Colts have featured eight undrafted free agents who, in their rookie season, played in at least one regular season game, with two players starting games.

During Raye’s tenure with the Chargers, the team compiled six winning seasons and five AFC West Division titles. San Diego posted four straight division crowns from 2006-09, which included a 14-2 campaign in 2006, marking the most wins for the team in a single season in franchise history. That season the Chargers also led the league in Pro Bowl selections with 11. Raye played an instrumental role in the draft selections of LaDainian Tomlinson (2001), the Chargers all-time leading rusher (12,490 yards) as well as quarterback Drew Brees (2001), cornerback Quentin Jammer (2002), wide receiver Vincent Jackson (2005) and running back Darren Sproles (2005). He was also part of a staff that signed undrafted free agent Antonio Gates, the team’s all-time leading receiver (10,644 yards) in 2003. From Raye’s first season as San Diego’s director of college scouting in 2000 to his departure in 2012, the Chargers led the NFL in the total number of college free agents who earned a spot on the 53-man roster.

Raye’s NFL career started with the Kansas City Chiefs as the team’s offensive quality control coach in 1995. Prior to his time in the NFL, he spent the 1994 season as a wide receivers coach at Irvine (Calif.) High School and worked for the Amsterdam Admirals of the World League in April of 1995. A former wide receiver at San Diego State (1986-1990), Raye earned a degree in public administration. He left the university tied for eighth on the school’s all-time receiving list with 111 catches. In 1991, Raye signed with the Los Angeles Rams and spent the entire campaign on the team’s roster. He then went on to training camps with the Chargers (1992) and Houston Oilers (1993).

Raye’s success and emergence as a top football mind in the NFL has not gone unnoticed, as he has been recognized throughout his career by receiving invitations to attend the 2003 NFL Stanford Executive Education program in its inaugural year at Stanford Business School and again in 2013 at the NFL Career Symposium at University of Pennsylvania Wharton Business School. Raye was also invited to attend the NFL’s inaugural General Managers’ Workshop at the league office in June of 2016. The event helps top tier general manager candidates prepare for the next step.

Raye has been honored with the Fritz Pollard Alliance “Salute to Excellence” Award in back-to back years (2014-15), recognizing those who display outstanding performance through the year on the field and in the front office of the National Football League.

Born in Fayetteville, N.C., Raye’s family moved to Irvine, Calif. where he became an all-league quarterback and defensive back at Irvine High School. He also played basketball and ran track. Raye’s father, Jimmy Raye II, played for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1969 and currently works as a consultant for the NFL’s football operations department.